Standing Outside The Fire

By: DJ Rodriguez

(Author's Notes: Well, at least there are some people out there who like to listen to country.

Yugi: The next one is Standing Outside The Fire by Garth Brooks. DJ always likes songs that are good and have a meaning to life.

Darien: So, how about it everyone? Are you the type to stand outside, or within the fire? Let us know in your reviews, okay?

Now, on with the songfic!)

Yugi was very much wondering on what happened. Up to a few days ago, he was known as the King of Games. Now, he was recognized by Japan as the Soulful Singer. After the tour of KaibaLand, Yugi went home and turned on the TV. He was surfing the channels, when he found something truly shocking!

He saw himself singing his song in the karaoke room, and boy was he embarrassed.

His grandfather, Solomon, congratulated his grandchild on a wonderful job. "I didn't know you had it in you, my boy!", he told him proudly.

The next day, he soon found out that the entire NATION saw him singing! Thus, he was often asked numerous questions by many people, like on what songs he liked or why he sang that particular song.

Now, he was at school trying to get some peace and quiet. Alas, it was not to be. Many students went up to him, many of them females. One of them, a beautiful redhead by the name of Laura asked, "Yugi, could you sing a song for us?".

In truth, many of Yugi's admirers were female. While most men in Japan concentrated in either sports or business, Yugi was one of the rare boys that actually sounded good singing!

Yugi smiled bashfully and replied, "I-I don't know. I mean… what I did… it was…".

He couldn't finish his sentence because someone found the opportunity to interrupt him. From out of the crowd came forth Ushio, Yugi's old bullies. However, he was not alone. Behind him were some of his friends, as well as some of the jealous male students. They were very upset that Yugi, unintentionally, was stealing their girlfriends' attention and admiration.

"Listen, pipsqueak. I don't think you could sing well! I bet that footage of you was fake!", he snarled. The other boys agreed with him.

Yugi saw that his friends were nowhere to be found, all of them either somewhere else or in class. He had no support, and was slightly fearful when he saw Ushio and his gang approach him.

Thankfully, he was saved by the principle Mrs. Aiko. She told the students to leave Yugi be, but then approached him in a rather peculiar manner. She smiled at him and asked, "Yugi, could you please come to the cafeteria with me?".

He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Mrs. Aiko was helping him out, though unknowingly. He followed her, but when he turned around, he saw the other students doing the same. They were curious on what this was leading to.

When they arrived, the principle showed Yugi that a little set-up was being prepared on the stage. She told him, "Because of your recent fame, Yugi Moto, I am requesting that you perform tonight for the school. One time only, mind you.".

Yugi inwardly groaned, wondering on when this fiasco was going to end. He smiled weakly and replied, "Of course, Mrs. Aiko. I'll perform tonight.".

She grinned widely, wished Yugi luck, and then left through the ext doors. She was surprised to see that students crowding around the walls and windows, knowing they were spying on them. She shooed them away, making them go back to class and also preparing to inform Yugi's teachers that he would be excused from class to practice his singing.

~That evening~

It was about 7:45 p.m. when the cafeteria opened up its doors once more. The entire school was informed about the little performance, and admission was going hot! In after 15 minutes after 7:30 p.m., the entire cafeteria area was full with over 100 students!

Yugi was backstage, practicing his lines and also becoming very nervous. He wasn't like that in the karaoke room, but that was on account he assumed no one was there to see him sing.

'Oh, man! What am I going to do now?!', he thought.

As he went over the lyrics for the song he had chosen to do, he heard Ushio and some of his friends behind a curtain.

"So, you think that punk could pull this off?", a member of his gang inquired.

Ushio laughed haughtily and replied, "Not a chance! Besides, I wouldn't be caught dead singing! Especially with all those people out there!".

They all laughed and another person added, "Yeah, I know! That Yugi kid must be really stupid to actually do this!". It was after that they left, going back to the main auditorium.

Yugi was very furious, his left hand that clenched the microphone shaking some and his grip tightening. Ushio assumed that he didn't have the guts to sing in front of people, yet he faced off against foes much more stronger and powerful then him!

"He always stands on the outside of the arena, always wanting to see but never to participate!", he growled to himself. Needless to say, it gave him the fuel he needed to let loose!

The curtain came up, and Yugi could hear clapping and whistling. He turned around and went out onto that stage, temporarily blinded by the stage light when it hit him in the face without warning. He waved to them all, a semi-forced smile on his face.

"Hello, everyone! I assume you are all ready to hear me sing?", he asked them all.

His response was a room-shaking cheer, mostly from the females' students. The rest of the boys, including Ushio, just sneered at the young man.

Yugi cleared his throat and stated, "Okay then! This song goes out to all of you, for those that have the courage to be different! For those that like to participate in life and the things they love, not to merely look on!".

This got all of them good and in the way he spoke so passionately and strong, it made the females almost swoon.

The music came on, and everyone recognized it right away. It was Standing Outside The Fire by the American country singer Garth Brooks. Yugi was now in his rightful mood, and without further delay, he started to sing! He moved his body with the rhythm and harmony of the music, and he was once again lost in his soul-filled need to make his point known.

We call them cool

Those hearts that have no scars to show

The ones that never do let go

And risk the tables being turned

Two female students, one known to all as Ryn Whittaker and the other known as Laura Miyamoto, just stared on, hypnotized by Yugi's movements and his soulful voice. It seems that they were not the only ones doing that. Most of the female students, except for Téa and some others, started to just gaze on at the tri-colored man.

We call them fools

Who have to dance within the flames

Who chance the sorrow and the shame

That always comes with getting burned

Mai Valentine and Serenity Wheeler were just standing at the edge of the doorway beside the stage, listening intently and also checking Yugi out. They did not come to the school, thus they were not welcomed in. They just stood near the entranceway, to leave be when the time came.

"Well, I got to hand it to Yugi. When it comes to 'dancing within the flames', he doesn't hesitate.", she whispered to herself.

Serenity was thinking along the same lines, remembering that Yugi was one of few who actually jumped to any situation with little hesitation.

But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire

'Cause its not enough just to stand outside the fire

As Yugi sang, he saw a small TV crew and camera to his right. He inwardly groaned, as he now realized that he was singing once again to the entire world. Well, he just shrugged it off and continued with his passionate singing.

We call them strong

Those who can face this world alone

Who seem to get by on their own

Those who will never take the fall

Seto Kaiba was watching this from his TV in his office at Kaiba Corp. Needless to say, he was now starting to wonder on his actions. "That sounds like me, which is kinda ironic.", he told himself. He was always the strong one, never letting anyone, save his little brother, get close to him.

Even now, he felt empty and alone. His brother would be there, but it wouldn't have sufficed. He wanted to have friends, yet… he was afraid of going into that kind of fire. The fire of trust, love, and true respect.

We call them weak

Who are unable to resist

The slightest chance love exist

And for that forsake it all

Yugi had to chuckle at that one inwardly. He was always trying to get with Téa, but she would always ask him to change into Yami. It was a big burden to him, but he never deny her anything. So, he always had hope. Hope that one day, a girl could like him for who he really was.

'As long as the chance of love exists for me, no matter how small, I'll always have hope!', he told himself.

They're so hell-bent on giving, walking a wire

Convinced its not living if you stand outside the fire

The female students near the stage were just in awe on how powerful he sang. One of them, a girl going by the name of Jocasta Stephenson, actually tried to touch him from her close position on the stage. But, the teachers gently pushed her back.

"Man, this cutie is on fire!", she told her nearby friend, Anhk. Those who heard her couldn't have agreed more!

Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

Ushio and the other boys scowled, very much angry that Yugi was showing them up like that. One the boys muttered, "Little punk's more braver then I thought.".

Ushio just snarled at that and replied, "Don't worry, boys. After he's done, we'll show him what its like to really be in the fire!".

There's this love that is burning

Deep in my soul

Constantly yearning to get out of control

Wanting to fly higher and higher

I can't abide

Standing outside the fire

When Yugi was at this point, he pulled a random girl up on stage to dance with him. That lucky person was Anhk, and Jocasta was just squealing in delight at the luck of her friend.

While they were dancing and moving to the music, Anhk saw the fire and passion blazing like an inferno in Yugi's eyes. She really felt her knees and legs turning to jelly… and they almost did when Yugi lightly kissed her cheek and escorted her back down from the stage.

The crowd was just cheering their heads off, congratulating a very red-faced Anhk. The girl was just speechless, and her eyes were just wide with awe and shock.

Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, just merely survived

If you stand outside the fire

As he neared the end, Ushio and his gang silently slithered out of the cafeteria and out onto the parking lot. They were planning to ambush him, but… some others were waiting for them as well.

A tap on Ushio's shoulders from behind forced the large bully to look around… and receive a punch in the face. He was knocked to the ground, some blood leaking from his nose. He and the gang looked up to see Mako Tsunami, Rex Raptor, Espa Roba, Marik Ishtar, and also Odion Ishtar

Marik smirked at them all and inquired sarcastically, "You fellows weren't about to gang up on Yugi, were ya?". It was going to be a one-sided fight at this point.

Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, just merely survived

If you stand outside the fire

The lyrics were done, but Yugi kept on moving to the music. He invited some people to come up and the lucky ladies were Anhk, Jocasta, Laura, and also Ishizu.

As they danced away, the crowd just kept on cheering and hollering! After a few minutes, the music died down and it was over.

Yugi looked at the crowd, and the ladies standing beside him. He smiled wide and declared, "Ladies, take a bow! You deserve it!".

The four women giggled slightly and did just that, the audience laughing and clapping towards the ladies. Anhk took Yugi's hand, and they all bowed together.

When the show was over and everyone leaving, they all saw a very puzzling sight. Ushio and his boys were knocked out-cold, tied to a large tree and also looking utterly ridiculous. Giving their reputation, no one bother to help.

"Yugi, you want to come with us to get some food?", Jocasta asked the tri-colored haired young man.

Yugi blushed and nodded, then he slowly took Anhk's hand into his. She didn't pull back, only smiled and blushed like he did. As the five left, it seemed that Yugi finally found someone that was willing to give him a chance.

(Author's Notes: Sorry if this looked sappy, but it's just me. So, how about any of you? Do you stand outside the fire, or not?

Yugi: I hope that Anhk and I get along well. *Blushes*

Darien: Don't worry, you'll get along great! For the questions:

1.) How would you feel if Yugi pulled you on stage to dance with him?

2.) Do you think Yugi always stands in the fire?

3.) What do you think his next song will be?

R&R, no flames, enjoy, and leave long reviews!)